One Day

by David Nicholls

[jeannamichel]

Dexter and Emma have been friends for years. Emma has loved him ever since they met. Dexter has always been a jerk ever since they met. Two people who come together and continue their relationship despite their differences. The novel documents one day each year since the day they met to the present of their relationship. David Nicholls creates a unique contemporary that moves its readers to its very core.

At least, it moved me quite a bit. This is not your everyday romance-chick lit-you read just because- book. This novel puts a new spin on things. First off, I read this book because I saw the movie trailer a while back and it looked interesting. I have, presently, watched the movie trailer about ten times now. I have not seen the movie yet but there will probably be a review on that as well, but where I stand with the book right now, I’m not so sure I want to watch the movie. If I had read spoilers of this novel, I would have never started this book in the first place, but when I start a book, I can never seem to stop so I saw it to the end. I’m not going to spoil it, but after reading, I’ve realized that this book does not sound like a novel I would usually enjoy and yet I find myself liking it.

It inspired me. The plot was like a whirlwind of ups and downs that kept me on my toes. I wanted to cry one minute and laugh the next. The reason for this was the structure. Nicholls’ structure is one of the most unique structures I have encountered yet. Every chapter is the next year of their relationship, on the same day of the next year. This has both its advantages and disadvantages. Advantages: see above, totally keeping you on your toes with nonstop storyline. Disadvantages: it does get confusing, especially during the final chapters because the year does not always progress, therefore you have to keep in mind what happened during this year and so on.

The writing style was fantastic, in such a way that I just wanted to keep reading just to listen to the voice speak inside my head. There were a few dilemmas with the characters. Mainly it was just Emma and Dexter, then Nicholls would throw in a sub-character or little character that would make an impact later on, but overall just the two leads shined throughout the entire novel. That is a small cast of characters to fill and I’m not sure how the two managed. Dexter is a jerk, which makes him very annoying and not someone I’d want to stick around for a lead role. Dexter is obnoxious and awful, and he can be sweet and cute, but he does not get my vote for Best-Character. However, as a character, he is well-thought out, you do get to see why he is the way he is. But I still don’t like anything about him. I liked Emma though. I wanted to see a bunch more of her, and when I just started to, the book was over.

I hated but loved the ending. I hate giving things away so I won’t. However confusing the structure became, I loved how it went back and forth to the present and past. It showed so much that I would have otherwise missed. Of course, Dexter redeemed himself in the end, which all characters seem to do like some cliché. He had changed so much in the course of a few years, or a few chapters that I liked him much better in the end than I did in the entirety of the novel.

One Day is meant for an older crowd. This is something I would recommend to my mother or even my grandmother. If you are a young teen, I would suggest waiting a few years, because some of the novel is very relatable to an older age group.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you like inspirational chick-lit or just want to read the book before watching the movie, definitely read it. One Day will make you wish that you had a special one day just for true love.